16th, by the P. and O. mail steaner China, Governor of Hongkong, arrived oh the which steamed into the harbour at has past eleven o'clock. Shortly after one o'clock, the Governor's barge left the-mail steamer, having on board Sir Arthur and Lady Kennedy, Miss Kennedy, Major-General Whitfeild the Acting Colonial Secretary, and one otto staffoflicers, Salutes were fired by H.M.S. Zron Duke, the French man-of-war Alma, and the battery on shore. His Excellency was received by' a large number of civil servants, who were assembled on the. wharf, to when he was introduced by Lieutenant-Governor Whitfeild, The soldiers on the Praya pre: sented arms, and the party then drove to Government House.
In the afternoon, at half-past two, Sir Ar thur met the Legislative Council to" be for mally inducted into office, The Clerk of the Council opened the proceedings by reading Her Majesty's Commis: sion revoking the appointment of Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell, and appointing Sir Arthur Edward Kennedy to succeed him, The oaths were then administered to Sir Arthur by the Acting Chief Justice, who appeared la his robes, and, the signatures completed, Major-General Whitfeild vacated the presi dent's chair, which was taken by Sir Arthur Kennedy, The battery guns here fired another salute, during which there was " pause in the proceedings in: the Council-room.
His Excellency then said:—Gentlemen thing on the present cession, but 1 tink the Council,—I had not intended to say any-LPT did hot aay something, and possibly the sibly you might misapprehend my silence, few words I have to say will do no, harm," feel very gravely the responsibility Her Maj has placed upon the in appoint ing me to this important Colon; rat disadvantage in succeed trative ability. I have known Sir Richard Richard MacDonnell's admitts some years. I think we are nearly conte poraries in the service—and I know perfectly well that anything he failed in, it sible I may not succeed in; but I look to members of the Council for conscientious, dependent, arid cordial support in whatever measures may be necessary for the gover ment of the Colony. We are all bound by! obligation we have taken upon us to promote the "good, of the Queen's Rervice. bY means. believe this can only be done wie mutual confidence, respect, ang: goodwill ist between all of us. I know perfectly how difficalt this duty can_be anode one wrong-headed person in any assembly: T believe so far as the government. of Bos kong.is concerned, there are undoubtedly 55 difficulties to contend with, and this Com: have on the whole acquitted themselves
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.